A Cedar Rapids man caught with a handgun last month claimed he was helping police “get shooters off the street,” according to federal court documents.

Timothy L. Rush, 24, is accused by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa of being a felon in possession of a firearm. In 2012, Rush was convicted at the state level of unauthorized possession of offensive weapons, a Class D felony.

According to a criminal complaint filed by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire Arms and Explosives Special Agent Timothy Hunt, Cedar Rapids police were called to 15th Street SE the evening of May 29 for a report of a man with a gun. Responding officers encountered Rush walking in the 600 block of 15th Street, a block away from where the man with a gun was spotted, according to the complaint. Police said Rush — who was spotted carrying a black handgun — fled from police. He was eventually captured and a handgun was recovered along the path of the pursuit.

Police interviewed Rush, who initially denied having the handgun. According to the complaint, he later admitted to finding the gun the morning of May 29 at a residence near the intersection of Washington and Third avenues in Cedar Rapids. Rush told investigators he believed the gun belonged to another man and intended to plant the gun in that man’s car so that police could arrest him.

“Rush claimed he had been in contact with law enforcement officers in the past and was attempting to work with them to get shooters off the street,” the complaint reads.

Rush was arrested in May 2012 when Cedar Rapids police responded to a shots fired call. Rush was allegedly spotted carrying a shotgun and was apprehended after a short chase and struggle with police. Rush also was accused of running afoul of authorities in January 2011 when he was accused of leading officers on a vehicular chase and was arrested for eluding, possession of a controlled substance, driving without a license and interference with official acts causing injury.

A preliminary hearing and detention hearing on Rush’s federal charge is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Friday.

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